I’ve seen quite a few setup pics, where people have two grinders. Often a single dose and then a hopper grinder. But I’ve seen multiple single dose grinders.

Would you recommend for those who have this?

by marleyman14

48 Comments

  1. neroli1970

    Two grinders makes a lot of sense if you do both pour overs and espresso. Once you get a grinder dialed in for either, it is less than ideal to change the settings to do the other.

  2. _Logham_

    Please… throw away the boxes. You’re never gonna need them.

  3. canoecarrier

    For me, I have two grinders, one for pour over and one for espresso, like what someone else said here.

    My understanding is that there isn’t really an all-in-one grinder as there are grinders better suited to grinding fine for espresso and those better suited to grinding coarser for pour over, french press, etc.

  4. Double0dude

    I have 5 grinders, not including hand grinders. If you have space and like to explore I don’t see the problem. It’s not practical through and I wouldn’t say that I recommend it.

  5. KinkyMonitorLizard

    I upgraded so my encore esp is now relegated to pour overs.

  6. Klutzy-Jackfruit6250

    Seems worth it if you do pour over as well to have one dialed in for each. Or if you have 2 completely different profile burr sets.

  7. Kichigax

    I have three grinders, two electric: one for espresso and one for filter. That’s completely worth it and even necessary imo. But two espresso grinders in your scenario is not unless you’re actually brewing the same beans for multiple people every day, a hopper grinder is unnecessary.

    Last hand grinder is the backup/travel grinder and the experimental grinder for beans I don’t want to put in my main electric grinders. From time to time I receive beans from good-natured friends and family, usually these are the ones I hand grind.

  8. WaffleHouseCEO

    I have 2 grinders atm. Sold 1 gave 2 away for free

    I use both grinders nearly every day.

    My favorite grinder: Option-o lagom 01 with 102mm mizen burrs. This could be a one and done grinder, does really good for modern espresso, great for filter and immersion brew, and good ( not great ) for traditional espresso and milkies.

    My more used grinder: Weber key mk2. (Used to be the niche zero). Great high end traditional espressos grinder, wonderful body texture, and sweetness, with a little bit more clarity than the niche.

    I run 2 grinders, because I can (lol), but really it just convenience thing. I can have my big flat set for grind size that’s more suitable for modern light roast while having my key set for traditional darker roast.

  9. JadedMuse

    What are the dimensions on the table you’re using? I need this setup, lol.

  10. Yes. Have a flat burr 64mm timed grinder that I use for my daily beans, dial it in with each bag, monitor at times during the week for consistency. Second grinder is a single dose, use that for decaf and any other coffee beans that I am trying out. Overkill? Probably. Rationalization is based on it being a hobby, I am using both.

  11. PumaActual

    yeah I have 2 and am going to get a 3rd …. I already use pretty cheap 2nd grinder for my wife’s drip machine and it sounds like an airplane engine ingesting a wheelbarrow full of gravel in the mornings. That has to go. LOL

  12. thebrieze

    1 each for espresso and pourover makes a lot of sense. Additionally some people like different grinders (or burr profiles) for different types of coffees. Nothing wrong with it if you have the space, money and passion

  13. Ineverpayretail2

    Honestly. I’m planning on doing three df64 with different ssp burrs in each one this year. I was considering the p64 then when the p80 was announced I thought maybe I would want the p80. But what I really want is to play around with different burrs without the hassle of swapping them out. So for the budget of a new p80 I can get two used df64 with three burr sets.

  14. Low_Pie3001

    I have 2 grinders – a DF83V with SSP MPs and a Kafatek MC6. My Kafatek does all my espressos (from light to dark) and my 83V does all pour over. I initially used the 83V for pour over and espresso but I began to really miss texture. I don’t necessarily believe in the flat vs cone debate but I really enjoy having a conical and flat burr grinder

  15. Calvertorius

    Some people like to go both ways. No judgement here.

  16. Fluffy_Art_1015

    I have the same experience. I have a hand grinder for my pour overs and an electric burr for espresso (courser grind is easier on a hand grinder than fine grind). Switching beans or even batches there’s enough difference and or retention that it takes one or two grinds to get it where I want it.

  17. devilspawn

    I use two. I’ve got a Macap M5D that I use for espresso and an Iberital MC2 for my aeropress. I’m undecided on whether a hand grinder would be simpler for the aeropress though.

  18. Apprehensive_Fan_844

    I just got a second (technically third) grinder, and I’m excited. My first hand grinder I was using just for making small amounts of cold brew (I know).

    I then upgraded to an electric burr grinder that a colleague was selling for $40. When I got my espresso machine, I made this my decaf grinder, because I love the act of drinking coffee much more than I can tolerate caffeine lol. My thinking is I would hand grind my 1-3 full caf espressos each day, and then bulk grind the decaf since decaf is crap anyway. I then found out my hand grinder (Timemore C2) is specifically not great at espresso, so I just picked a Kingrinder K6. Super worth it so far!! I am choosing not to spend a ton on gear since I’m space limited (hence no electric single shot), but the convenience and separation is worth it.

  19. OddAnkylosaurus

    I have three right now, but my intention is to downsize as I narrow down which one I want to keep.

    I can imagine ending up with two, though: one for full bodied medium-dark roasts (Specialita or Niche Zero) and one for juicy, crisp, light roasts (Timemore 078s). I love both types, so it’s hard to choose a single grinder.

  20. liminatii

    Not out of the question for different brew styles. I personally use an electric grinder for espresso and a hand grinder for pours.

  21. Ciccio99

    Very much so. I actually had issue where I tried using my eureka mignon zero for some pour over beans, and after grinding at a much higher setting for the pour over, I tried going back down to espresso grind size and found that I couldn’t set it that low anymore, it was clogged/blocked from the larger grind size bits. It actually stopped the burrs completely, it wouldn’t spin at all.

    After taking it apart and leaning everything out it was fine again. But at that point I decided to keep the eureka as the espresso and the baratza virtuoso for pour overs/moka/etc

  22. Select-Butterfly-124

    I’ve got 2 grinders. My Eureka Mignon for my caffeinated beans and my old Breville Smart Grinder for the wife’s decaf

  23. After-Ad-6875

    Yes, it is. That said, a hand grinder makes a lot of sense for filter if you are only grinding 20-40g each time. Saves a good amount of counter space.

  24. IndicationCurrent869

    Yes. With espresso you want to set the grind and leave it. Only very small adjustments are needed at times. If you switch to pour over, drip, or French press you’ll be frustrated wasting coffee and time trying to dial in your favorite espresso shot.

  25. snatch1903

    I have a Eureka Mignon grinder and it’s incredibly difficult to mess up the espresso settings, so I bought a hand grinder from Temu for my V60. It’s an economical solution and it works very well.

  26. josephlikescoffee

    We drink enough decaf alongside regular, so have two. Started with a Niche Zero, and that’s on decaf duty since getting an 078s.

    Also have a hand grinder around for travel, French press and pour overs… but downsized from 3 hand grinders to 1 😀 That’s what happens when you’re in the hobby long enough

  27. tylersgc

    One for caf, one for decaf. I like the setting so far. Someday i will upgrade them both to gbw

  28. Nono_Home

    Depends on how many drinks you make in an hour. As a barista yes had 2 to 6 grinders depending on hourly expected throughput and expected different blends or roasts. If money is no issue of course more than one is easier a lot of people just buy a new and better one and leave the old one.

  29. Rusty_924

    i have big flat burr grinder dialed in for a more expensive light roast and use niche zero for dark roasts for visitors who do like those flavors. and for decaf. its super convenient

  30. Bangkokserious

    I have one that I use for both. It does well for both espresso and pour over. There are times I wish I had a second one so I didn’t have to switch or at least use burrs that were optimized for my brew method of choice. I find I can get away with using a decent hand grinder as a bit of a changeup if I really want to see if I can squeeze out some extra flavour note for my pour over. Sometimes it makes a difference other times I wonder if it is a placebo.

  31. estersdoll

    Two grinders can feel a bit indulgent, but since I got “serious” about my espresso, that is how I roll. I tend to drink espresso in the morning and pourovers in the afternoon. I dedicate one grinder to each – Niche and Ode 2, respectively. They’re both single dose, but that is more about retention than anything. I can’t be bothered with the wild swings in gindsize first thing I the morning. I dial them in respectively for the week’s beans so the day to day is less complicated.

    At this point, I like conical burrs for espresso and flats for pourover. I like texture in my espresso and more clarity in my pourovers.plus, as of two years ago, my pourover grinder can’t do espresso.

  32. TimAndTimi

    One manual one electric maybe…

    Still dunno what electric to get. I don’t like grinder with mushroom head, leaving the beans exposed to fresh air is something I try to avoid, nor I am a fan of constantly drinking the same bean everyday. (One can use mushroom headed grinder for single dose for sure… but, anyways)

    Niche too expensive for what it offers, I’d just get a LM pico in that price…, single dose grinder in general just make grinding simpler, not weighing beans or puck prep. And definitely another headache to clean the interior.

    https://preview.redd.it/gygvqn64jocg1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=86c6b859f7a49fc86b03db98c94fe38ad5f64d38

  33. Cheap-Mammoth-9212

    I have 2 Specialitas. One for caffeinated, one for decaf.

  34. Yes. I do both pour overs and espresso. I can do pour overs on the Niche but I don’t want to have to dial in my beans again. So I use a separate grinder for pour overs because it’s much easier to deal with and prep.

  35. Sorry for being OT. Is that an IKEA shelf OP?

  36. Motor-Explanation-20

    I had two grinders – Mahlkonig E64 WS which does all the espresso. Timemore 078s for decaf. And I have two had grinders – kingrinder K7 for pourover and a kingrinder P1 for aeropress.

    But let me tell you, I’ve only accumulated this because the Timemore Sculptor I’ve been trying to sell but don’t know how to, so just kept it (if you’re looking to buy in Paris lemme know 😂) and the hand grinders have been travel ones that now serve a purpose at home, though, they’re primarily for my travelling.

  37. BradipiECaffe

    Only if you switch often between filter and espresso. The most practical solution is to buy an hand grinder for the filter, like a 1zpresso and you’ll spare a lot of space on the counter.

  38. drb_backup

    As someone who has 4 different electrical grinders, and 2 different hand grinders I would say: No !

  39. vlladhalla

    I have two grinders, one set for darker roasts one for lighter roasts. I drink the dark roasts as espresso, light roasts for milk based drinks. Is it an overkill? Yes. Can i live with one grinder? Sure. Would i buy two again? Probably not.

  40. DrahtMaul

    1 pour over 1 espresso. And a ZP6 that’s on holiday duty 😂. But I could see a second espresso grinder. One for modern turbos and one for a more traditional approach. Don’t really feel the need for it right now as my grinder currently performs well enough in all of that.

  41. Elegant_Apple2530

    In my view having 2 grinders is a much better investment than many other equipments and accessories people are spending money on. If you switch beans, use different beans at the same time, or even switch between pour-over and espresso regularly, even grinders with very low retention will be a pain. I hate purging expensive beans hence 2 grinders is absolutely justified in my view, plus dialing in gets easier and more consistent.

    I am using different beans in parallel for 1) espresso 2) milk drinks and 3) pour-over. I would get crazy if I had to grind them with the same grinder.